Spirit-level.



G. BODMER & J. M. BURDIGK.

SPIRIT LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.11, 1909.

954,074. i Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN BODMFR AND JAMES M. BURDICK, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, AS-

SIGN OBS TO STANLEY RULE & LEVEL COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SPIRIT-LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHRISTIAN BODMER and JAMES M. BURDIOK, citizens of the United States, residing at New Britain, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spirit-Levels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to spirit-levels and like devices, as used by carpenters, masons and other mechanics.

Among the objects of the invention are the following: provision of simple, inexpensive and effective means whereby the leveling device may be easily attached to an ordinary straight edge, whereby the same may be readily converted into a spirit-level, without disturbing the use of or impairing the parallel faces of the straight edge, furthermore a construction is provided whereby the bubble-glass or spirit-tube may be adjusted in a very simple manner and with the greatest accuracy, an effective looking means being provided to rigidly secure the parts in their adjusted position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following specification and inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of level stock or straight edge, a leveling device being secured thereon. Fig. 2 is a sec tion on the line 00-00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank employed in the construction of one of the parts. Fig. 4 illustrates a side and end elevation of the part formed from the blank shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of another blank used in forming another part of the level construction.

1 represents the body or stock of the level or straight edge, the sides and ends being broken away. 2 is an opening therein, within which is located the leveling apparatus.

3 is the so-called bubble-glass of the level, in which the spirit is contained. A frame for carrying the bubble-glass 3 is formed from a blank, preferably of the outline shown in Fig. 3. This blank is rolled up into the form shown in detail in Fig. 4, the rolled-up part furnishing the two end bearings or sockets H arranged to receive the ends of the bubble-glass, a space between the socket bearings H exposing that part of the bubble-glass. which must be seen when using the level. bearings L 1? are connected by a rib or fin, which preferably comprises two thicknesses of stock, 5-5-, the same being the two ends aa of the blank shown in Fig. 3, the intermediate connecting portions or sides bb of the blank being those portions which are rolled up to form the aforesaid socket bearings t4; The rib which serves to connect the socket bearings H is provided with clearance openings or slots 66, the function of which will later be explained.

7 is a blank, the general outline of which is approximately triangular or three-sided, said blank having an offset ear 7, from about the middle of one of said sides. This blank is employed in forming a bracket, the ear 7 a being bent at right angles to the main body of the blank from which it projects. The body of the blank is provided with a screw passage 7 while the offset ear 7* is provided with a screw-hole or passage 7. In practice it is preferable to employ two pairs of these brackets, as shown in the drawings, one pair being provided at each end of the rib of the level glass carryingframe.

8 is a screw which passes freelythrough the perforation 7 b in one of the brackets and screws into the corresponding perforation The two socket v in the opposite bracket, the latter being threaded to receive the said screw 8. This said screw 8 passes through one of the clearance openings 66 in the rib, the latter being enough larger than the screw to permit the adjustment of the level glass carryingframe, relatively to the bracket. This is preferably, true of the connection between both pairs of brackets and the level glass carrying-frame, so that either or both ends of the frame may be adjusted.

The level construction is at first assembled independently of the stock or frame 1. When the parts are all assembled as a unit, it is merely necessary to bore in the stock 1 an opening of sufficient size to admit said level construction. When the latter is in place in said opening and is given an approximate adjustment therein, the brackets are rigidlyv secured to the stock or frame 1 by means of holding screws 9-9. The final This is accomplished by loosening the screw 8 sutliciently to permit the level glass carrying-frame to be tilted. To facilitate the tilting of the frame, the screw passages 6-6 in the rib of said level glass carryingframe may be extended laterally or widened, as shown, and a notch may be formed in one or both side edges of the bracket 7, said notches being indicated at 7 7 The one who is to adjust the instrument is afforded by this construction two sets of bearing shoulders between which he may insert any thin instrument, such as a small screwdriver, by which he may pry up or down either end of the level glass carrying-frame to the minutest degree, thus securing the utmost accuracy of adjustment. When perfoot adjustment has been effected, the screws 8 are tightened so as to clamp the brackets tightly upon the rib connecting the socket bearings 4-4l-.

In the preferred construction, that edge of each bracket which is to lie adjacent to the wall surrounding the opening in which the leveling apparatus is located, is curved to correspond with the curvature of said wall whereby strain upon the ear 7 is removed, and whereby a better finish is given to the completed article. Great economy results from the improvements in the construction in that all the brackets 7 may be made from corresponding blanks as shown in Fig. 5. These blanks are so shaped that they can be struck out from the stock with a minimum of waste, indeed, that part of the stock removed from the center of the blank shown in Fig. 3 being of sufiicient size to permit one of said first named blanks to be struck therefrom, thereby avoiding the waste in the manufacture of the blankshown in Fig. 3, which latter may also be struck from sheet metal. lVhile, of course, neither blank need necessarily be formed from sheet metal, much economy can be attained by use of such material, not only from a standpoint of cost of material, but also from a standpoint of cost of labor.

The leveling apparatus being assembled as a unit, may be vended as such and may be purchased and very readily applied to any suitable stock, such as a wood straight edge, without requiring any special skill on the part of the workman.

It should be understood, of course, that leveling apparatus may be used as either a level or plumb, in the first instance the bubbleglass being parallel with the longer side of the stock, in the latter instance the bubble-glass being at right angles to the longer side of said stock.

vVhat we claim is:

1. In a spirit-level, a bubble-glass, a supporting frame including two socket bearings spaced apart to afford a sight opening, a rib integrally connecting said socket bearings and having a clearance opening at one end for a clamping screw, a pair of brackets for each end of said rib, said brackets standing on opposite sides of said rib, a portion of each bracket being arranged. to be secured to the level stock, another portion being arranged to be secured to said rib, and a screw for adjustably connecting said bracket and rib.

2. In a spirit level, a bubble-glass, a supporting frame therefor including two socket bearings spaced apart to afford a sight opening, a rib integrally connecting said bearings and having screw clearance openings in each end thereof, a pair of brackets for each end of said rib, portions of said brackets being laterally offset and being arranged to be secured to the stock of the spirit-level, other portions being arranged to be secured to said rib by means of a screw, a screw for securing said brackets to said rib, said screw passing through said clearance openin the latter being sutliciently large to permit said rib to be adjusted relatively to said bracket.

3. In a spirit-level, a bubble-glass, a supporting frame therefor including two socket bearings spaced apart to afford a sight opening, a rib integrally connecting said socket bearings and having screw clearance openings in each end thereof, a bracket for each end of said rib, a portion of said bracket being arranged to be secured to the stock of the spirit-level, another portion being ar-, ranged to be secured to said rib by means of a screw, a screw for securing said bracket to said rib, said screw passing through said clearance opening, the latter being sutficiently large to permit said rib to be adjusted relatively to said bracket, and adjacent bearing shoulders on the rib and bracket to facilitate adjustment.

&. In a spirit-level, a bubble-glass, a supporting frame therefor including two socket bearings spaced apart to afford a sight opening, a rib integrally connecting said socket bearings and having screw clearance openings in each end thereof, a bracket for each end of said rib, a portion of said bracket being arranged to be secured to the stock of the spirit level, another portion being arranged to be secured to said rib by means of a screw, a screw for securing said bracket to said rib, said screw passing through said clearance opening, the latter being sufficiently large to. permit said rib to be adjusted relatively to said bracket, adjacent bearing shoulders on the rib and bracket to facilitate adjustment, and a pair of shoulders on said bracket, the bearing shoulders on said bracket being formed by a notch in one edge of said bracket.

5. Ina spirit level, a bubble-glass, a supporting frame therefor including two socket bearings spaced apart to afford a sightopenrib integrally connecting said socket bearings and having screw clearance openings in each end thereof, a bracket for each end of said rib, a portion of said bracket being arranged to be secured to the stock of the spirit-level, another portion being arranged to be secured to said rib by means of a screw, a screw for securing said bracket to said rib, said screw passing through said clearance opening, the latter being sufl'iciently large to permit said rib to be ad in a justed relatively to said bracket, all of said parts when assembled having one side corresponding substantially to the arc of a circle, whereby said leveling mechanism may be 15 secured in an opening of a correspondingly shaped wall.

CHRISTIAN BODMER. JAMES M. BURDICK. Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. WORAM, I. W. CHAPMAN. 

